USA TODAY International Edition
4 more Oath Keepers guilty of seditious conspiracy
Four Oath Keepers members on trial for actions tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack were found guilty Monday of plotting to halt the peaceful transfer of power from former President Donald Trump to Joe Biden.
Joseph Hackett of Florida, Roberto Minuta of Texas, David Moerschel of Florida and Edward Vallejo of Arizona were convicted of seditious conspiracy in a second trial against members of the right- wing militia group.
The four were convicted on two other conspiracy charges, plus obstructing an official proceeding. Three of the four – Minuta, Hackett and Moerschel – were acquitted of lesser charges.
Monday’s outcome follows November convictions on the same rare charge of two other Oath Keepers, leader Stewart Rhodes and a top deputy, Kelly Meggs. Three other Oath Keepers were acquitted of seditious conspiracy in that trial, but found guilty of other charges.
Legally, seditious conspiracy occurs when two or more people conspire to “overthrow, put down or to destroy by force” the U. S. government or bring war against it, or plot to use force to oppose the authority of the government or to block the execution of a law.
It’s one of 57 federal crimes under the terrorism enhancement statute and can carry a 20- year prison sentence along with a maximum fine of $ 20,000.
Before the sedition convictions of Rhodes and Meggs, the government had not won a guilty verdict on the charge since 1995.
Prosecutors argued in closing remarks Wednesday that the four Oath Keepers on trial subscribed to a “perverted version of American history” that led them to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when they stormed the building in aim of stopping the certification of the 2020 election.
After that, the conspiracy continued, the government alleged, showing evidence the defendants planned to continue efforts to stop the peaceful transfer of power.
“Jan. 6 was just a battle,” Louis Manzo, a trial attorney serving as special assistant U. S. attorney, told the jury. “The full conspiracy was to stop the peaceful transfer of power.”
Defense attorneys argued Thursday that the government “cherry- picked” evidence to portray the defendants in a negative light, building their case on “selective evidence and scary words.”
“This case is about a narrative in search of evidence,” said William Shipley, defense attorney for Minuta.